FEBRUARY 23, 2017 – The European Union has responded to the issue of the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafra agitators and said it is monitoring his trial.
This was contained in a letter signed by Federica Mogherini who is the vice president of the European Commission to Members of the European Parliament who were signatories to a letter to him sent in December 2016 accusing Nigeria of human rights abuse.
Julie Ward who is a member of the EU has been supporter and advocate of Biafra and has spoken strongly against the detention of Kanu.
In his response dated February 13, Mogherini said since the beginning of Kanu’s trial, the EU has been monitoring it and said Biafra agitators should be allowed to protest and express themselves as long as it is within the scope of the constitution.
She wrote: “I fully share your concern on the violence that has erupted in relation to the Biafra movement. Individuals should be allowed to protest and express themselves freely as long as they exercise this right in a peaceful manner. Their prosecution, if founded on facts, should be carried out in full compliance of the rule of law, their human rights and judicial due process.”
The European Commission vice president said with the European Development Fund, Nigeria is expected to fulfil human rights commitments as 166 million euros was allocated to support the “fairness, transparency and accessibility of the justice sector governance reform and the fight against corruption.”
Mogherini said the EU raises human rights concern with Nigeria at every opportunity and promised that this will also be reiterated “through concerted effort, including parliamentary contacts.”
